Suction device for press rolls and the like



May 20, 1924.

H. L. KUTTER SucTIoz; DEVICE FOR PRESS ROLLS ANDTHE LI-KE "s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2l. 1921 @MZ ff@ maw-Siti@- H. l... KUTTER EvIcE EoR PEEss ROLLE AND THE LIKE SUCTION D "W 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dem 2l'. v.LM-.l

H. L. KUTTER May 20 1924.

SUCTION DEVICE FOR PRESS ROLLS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 2l. 1921 Patented May 20, 1924.

carrito STATES HERMAN L. KUTTER, 0F HAMILTON, OHIO.

SUCTION DEVICE FOR PRESS ROLLS AND THE LIKE.

Application led December 21, 1921.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN L. KU'rrER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Hamilton, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Suction Devices for Press Rolls and the like, of which the following is a full,.clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

In the manufacture of paper, after the sheeted pulp or paper has passed the couch rolls it is conveyed on a traveling felt between one or more pairs of press rolls forthe purpose of squeezing the water out of the paper and further compressing its fibers. Both the felt and the paper are very wet as they approach the press rolls and it is found in practice that a very considerable amount of water collects in the space between the approaching surfaces of the rolls, probably due partly to the forward revolution of the lower roll and partly to the attraction or action of the traveling felt. As a consequence, both the felt and paper are required to pass through a water bath just before passing through the press rolls. The present invention provides means for preventing the collection of water in the space between the upper and lower press rolls, with theresult that the paper will leave the press rolls much drier than otherwise while the felt will be maintained in better condition and its life considerably prolonged.

The invention is also applicable to other parts' of paper making machines Where a similar condition exists, such as the couch rolls of a Fourdrinier machine. In the latter case the sheet of stock is carried through opposing couch rolls on a wire cloth and the necessity for the removal of water accumulating between the rolls is the same as in the case of press rolls.

In the drawings. which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention in association with press rolls,

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a press embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a broken vertical section through the rolls and t-he suction device.

Figure 3 is a plan view on the line 3--3 in Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the .preferred means for mounting the suction device in the press.

Serial No. 523,862.

The press comprises a pair of rolls 1 and 2 which may be suitably mounted in any usual or desired way. Figure 1 illustrates a well known press housing in which the lower roll 2 is mounted in bearings secured in standards 3 that are supported by the frame 4. The upper roll 1 is mounted in bearings secured in arms 6 which are pivoted to the side members 5 of the frame and adapted to force the upper roll against the lower roll with varying pressure. .The felt 7 carrying the sheet of paper 8 is guided over the roll 9 and then passes between the rolls 1 and 2 of the press. It is well known in paper mill practice that water collects in the space 10 between the approaching surfaces of the rolls and forms there what practically amounts to a pool of water through which the felt and paper must pass on their way between the rolls. The primary object of the present invention is to prevent such collection of water by utilizing the approaching surfaces of a pair of rolls` or of a traveling felt or other support and the opposing one of a pair of rolls, to form the space between the approaching surfaces into a vacuum'chamber from which the water is eX- hausted.

The preferred means of accomplishing this end includes a chamber 11 which is preferably of substantially the same length as the rolls themselves. This chamber may be supported in any suitable way but preferably it is mounted in the manner illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In this preferred way of mounting the chamber, brackets 12 are secured to the opposite side members 5 of the housing frame and a shaft 13 is jour-v nalcd in the brackets and extends parallel to 'the press rolls. Arms 14 are keyed on the shaft 13 at its respective ends and at their free ends the arms 14 have pivotal connections 28 with the opposite end walls of the chamber 11. The pivotal connections 28 are so located that the suspended chamber 11 is substantially balanced. At one end of the shaft 13 an arm 29 is keyed on the shaft and is provided at its free end with oppositely faced bearing surfaces 30. rIhe adjacent bracket 12 is provided with spaced bosses 31 embracing the end of the arm 29. Adjusting screws 32 are threaded through the bosses and their ends bear against the bearing surfaces 30. By the means described the chamber 11 may be accurately positioned with respect to the press rolls.

The Vchamber 11 is connected at one end with a pipe 15 flexibly leading to a suction pump27. The chamber is formed so that it may extend into the space between the approaching surfaces'of the press rolls and it is preferably formed with flat parallel Walls 16 and 17 along its front edge spaced apart to form a Slot 18 extending from the space 10 to the interior ot the chamber. A bar 19 is secured to the chamber along one Side of the slot and the'blade 20 is secured to the chamber along the other side of the slot, the slot 18 and also the bar 19 and the blade 20 being preferably of substantially the same length as the rolls. The bar and blade may be conveniently secured to the chamber by screws 22 extending through the blade, the walls 17 and 16 of the chamber and into the bar 19. The blade 2O is formed with a beveled vfront edge 21 having a substantially air-tight bearing against the surface of the roll 2. The bar 19 is formed with a rounded surface normally bearing the felt and paper against the upper roll 1 in substantially air-tight relation. In some instances, particularly with respect to the succeeding pairs of a series of pairs of press rolls, the general arrangement. of the press mechanism will make it impractical to have the bar 19 bear against the upper roll through the interposed felt and paper. In such instances the bar 19 will have a suiiiciently air-tight bearing against the felt without bearing the latter against the roll, especially so since the general arrangement of the press mechanism maintains the traveling felt substantially taut. Whenused in connection with couch rolls, the bar 19 bears against the wireclothy and the ingress of air is practically and` stood, therefore, that whereever it is stated that the present device bears against a roll, the bearing may be directly againstthe surface of the roll or indirectly through an interposed felt or other support. On the other hand, where it is stated that the bearing is against a traveling felt or other support, it will be understood that the bearing may be against the felt or other support alone or against a felt or other support interposed between the bearing device and the surface of the roll. l

Each end wall of. the vchamber 11 is provided with guides 23 in which a plate 24 is slidable. the plates 24 being provided with slots l25 engaged by securing bolts 26. The plates 24 bear against the ends, that is the lateral ed es, of the felt and against the ends of 'the ro ls, the bar 19 and the blade 20,

' naaaeaa and may be adjusted to vary the extent of the openings at the ends ot the space 10 in order to regulate the volume of air admitted tothe chamber and thus to control the etfective suction through the chamber.

When the chamber is secured in proper position so that. t-he bar 19 and blade 2O effectively bear against the rolls, or against the traveling felt and the lower or opposing roll` operation of the pump will maintain suction in the chamber and from the space formed between the bar and blade and the cooperating surfaces of the press mechanism. These surfaces themselves are thus made to cooperate in forming the space between the rolls into a suction chamber so the water, instead of being allowed to collect between the vrolls is drawn out into 4the chamber trom which it is discharged.

lll/'hat I claim is 1. 1n a machine of the class described, the combination of two members having opposing traveling' surfaces, a chamber having a mouth with the lips thereof bearing against the respective surfaces to form an inclosure and having an air admission opening, means for exhausting air from the chamber,` and means tor adjusting the air admission openmg.

2. ln a machine of the class described, the combination ot a pair of revoluble rolls, a chamber having a mouth with the lips thereof bearing against the respective rolls to form an inclosure and having an air admission opening, means for exhausting air from the chamber, and means for adjusting the air admission opening. l

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of revoluble rolls, a. traveling support extending between the rolls, a chamber having a mouth with the lips thereof bearing respectively 'against one ofthe rolls andv the/support to yform an inclosure and having an air admission opening, means for exhausting air from the chamber, and means for adjusting the air admission opening.

4. Ina machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of revoluble rolls, a traveling support extending between the rolls, a chamber having a mouth of substantially the same length as the rolls, a bar secured along one lip of the mouth and having a rounded surface bearing against the support, a blade secured along the other lip of the mouth and bearing against the lower roll, and means foi-'exhausting air from the chamber.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combinationbf a pair of revoluble rolls, a traveling su port extending between the rolls, a cham er having a mouth of substantially the same length as the rolls, a bar secured along one lip of the mouth and hav- `ing a rounded surface bearing against the incense support, a blade secured along the other lip of t e mouth and bearing against the lower roll, the chamber having an air admission opening, means for exhausting air from the chamber, and a plate adjustably secured to the chambery over the air admission opening. 6. ln a machine of 'the class described, the combination of a pair of revoluble rolls, a traveling support extending between the rolls, a chamber supported on a pivotal axis parallel with the rolls, the chamber having a mouth with the lips thereof bearing respectively against one of the rolls and the Support to form an inclosure, means for exhausting air from the chamber, and means for adjusting thechaiber toward and from the rolls.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of revoluble rolls, a traveling support extending between the rolls, a chamber supported on a pivotal axis parallel with the rolls, the chamber having a mouth with the lips thereof bearin respectively against one of the rolls an the support to form an inclosure and-having an air admission opening, means for exhausting air from the chamber, means 'for adjusting the chamber toward' and from the rolls, and means for adjusting the air admission opening.

8; In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a housing, a pair of revoluble rolls supported thereby, a traveling support extending between the rolls, an arm pivoted to the housing on an axis parallel with the rolls, means for adjusting the arm on its axis, a chamber suspended from the arm on a pivotal axis parallel with the rolls, the chamber having a mouth with the lips thereof bearing respectively against one of the rolls and the support -to form an inclosure, and means for exhausting air from the chamber.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a housing, a pair of revoluble rolls supported thereby, a traveling support extending between the rolls, an arm pivoted to the housing on an axis parallel with the rolls, means foradjusting the arm on its axis, a chamber suspended from the arm on a pivotal axis 'parallel with the rolls, the

chamber having a mouth with the lips thereof bearing respectively a ainst one of the rolls and the support to crm an inclosure and having an air admission opening, means for exhausting air from the chamber, and means for adjusting the air admission openin n witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this 12th day ot December, 192i. 

